A number of friends have asked me to start a blog highlighting my month's stay at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center so they can follow my progress of losing weight which I desperately need to do. So here I go, never having blogged before.
Some history to begin with. Over the last 15 years (and probably more, though I can't remember when weight gain began to be a problem) I have tried a number of weight loss programs including The South Beach Diet, Dean Ornish, My Alli, and Weight Watchers - three times! Thinking about it, I think my down fall has been the plateaus I have hit each time. For instance, on the South Beach program, if I remember correctly, I lost 32 pounds and then hit a long plateau where I stopped losing weight. At some point I stopped using their cookbook and began to gain weight again.
Those who know me well, know that over the last 10 years, in my retirement, I have started to cook. Sudie works all day and I like to have a delicious meal awaiting her when she gets home. I subscribe to cooking magazines, and watch cooking shows on TV. As a matter of fact, many meals I have prepared have been on TV that day and I have copied the recipe from the Food Network site on the Internet, gone shopping for the ingredients, and prepared the meal that night. An example was this Christmas, when after seeing a Beef Wellington being prepared on "Ultimate Tyler", I prepared it for my son and family and I the reviews were outstanding. I'm afraid I will be told that I need to give up watching these programs after I get back - I hope not as cooking has become an important part of my daily life. Besides cooking for Sudie, I volunteer to cook for people at church who need meals for one reason or another, I co-chaired a successful cookbook project at church last year, I help with funeral hospitality helping serve food after the funeral, and I provide food and help serve for various church functions during the year.
I have been told that people participating in the AA program are told not to associate with folks who drink. I know that that when I am sitting around with my dear friends, talk often gravitates towards cooking. Again I pray that I will not be told to associate with my "cooking friends!" I honestly don't think that will happen, but it has crossed my mind.
This first entry is long enough! My prayer is that those of you who are following my (scary??) adventure at Duke will support and encourage me as I move forward in my quest of losing weight. I am feeling a lot of preasure to be successful. I need to be successful, I will be successful!!
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ReplyDeleteHi Pete,
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of your decision to become a Part of the Duke Weight loss program.
Becoming a part of this program will provide you with the opportunity to experiment and make more exciting and creative receipes.
Since Bill had his first heart attack 20 years ago at the age of 48 I have been preparing receipes for him that are healthy and fun to fix. What I learned on the South Beach Diet program is that there are four types of foods that you want to avoid, and having done this I have kept my weight off for 5 years. They are white, bread, rice, potatoes and pasta. Fortunately there are now on the market many substitutes of all these foods made with whole wheat.
I have a number of receipes that I prepare and have on hand to fill 'the empty spot' that creeps up during the day. Homemade chocolate pudding which is healthy and quick, low fat, no sugar puddings that I get at the supermarket and make with skim milk, custards etc. Lots of veggie receipes you can adapt that are healthy along with fruit receipes.
Secret is to take one day at a time, be positive, keep acknowledging yourself for what you are accomplishing and know that this will become a way of life for you.
Love you lots Pete and you are in my prayers,
Sis
Peter,
ReplyDeleteMel and I are very proud of you for facing such a huge challenge. As you have learned it's not simply about going on a diet. The program at Duke will give you the tools - your belief in yourself and the support of family and friends will be the means for you to accomplish the lifestyle change you need to make. We will be with you in spirit and in prayers as you begin this journey to North Carolina and beyond.
Liz